What is an acceptable spam complaint rate?
Keep spam complaints as close to zero as you can. Major mailbox providers expect very low complaint rates, and Google and Yahoo have published thresholds that senders should stay well below.
A complaint happens when a recipient clicks report spam. Even a small number matters because it directly signals to the mailbox provider that people do not want your mail.
Common causes are sending to people who did not opt in, sending too often and making unsubscribing hard to find. Offering a clear unsubscribe link reduces complaints.
Check complaint data in your email platform and in Google Postmaster Tools if you send meaningful volume.
In practice.
A brand sees complaints rise after a heavy sale week. It reduces sends to less engaged segments, makes the unsubscribe link easier to spot and checks complaint figures after each campaign for the next month.
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